A/N: Here's the next one! Enjoy!
At lunch, as Sasuke and Naruto sat down at their usual lunch table near the lunch line, Naruto straightened up when he saw Sakura walk in.
"Dude, Sakura-chan doesn't look so good," he noted with a frown. "Should she sit with us?"
Sasuke glanced over and had to do a double-take. She looked more pale than she had this morning, and she was shivering violently. Her head was bowed, but he could easily see her eyes, and they looked on the verge of shutting. He knew she ate well enough at home, so she couldn't be starving herself. But what could be the problem...?
"Call her over," he said, waving him off. "If anything, she'll be able to get in some sleep before class without anyone bothering her."
"Got it." Naruto nodded, jumping up from the table. "Oi, Sakura-chan!"
She looked up as he jogged over, a frown flickering across her face. Naruto gestured to their table and she peeked past him to see Sasuke. When he waved, her mouth twitched, as if she would smile. She didn't.
After a moment, Naruto was leading her over. She let him drag her by the hand, almost stumbling over her own feet. She sat down next to Sasuke and almost immediately rested her head down onto the lunch table, closing her eyes as her forehead made contact with the cool surface.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Sasuke advised with a mild frown. "Awful lot of germs, and I don't think the cafeteria staff wiped this one down."
"Yeah," Naruto added, grimacing when he pulled his milk carton off the table. "It's kinda sticky over here."
Sakura gave a low moan and picked her head up, setting the lunch sack down where her head had been. She blinked hazily at it, opening it and taking out the wrapped sandwich. Sure enough, a PB&J.
"Are you feeling okay, Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked, leaning over Sasuke to look at her in concern.
"I feel like..." she trailed off, glancing over to see Naruto munching down on some shoyu ramen. A smirk spread across her face, "... like shit."
Naruto choked on the broth, managing to swallow before coughing violently. "What the hell, Sakura-chan, that's gross!"
Sasuke didn't say anything, just thumping him on the back as he hacked. When he finally caught his breath, he went back to slurping his ramen, momentarily giving Sakura the stink-eye.
"I might've gone to bed too late last night," she mumbled, unwrapping the sandwich and taking a bite. "Maybe I'm getting sick."
"It is cold season," Sasuke agreed blandly. "Can you make it through the rest of the day?"
"I'm just a little off my game, I'm fine." She scoffed, polishing off one half before picking up the other. "Might sit out PE, but I can make it through classes."
He nodded. "Go to the nurse's. I'll pick you up after school."
"Aww, you two are so sweet," Naruto cooed, clasping his hands together and resting his cheek against them. At their annoyed stares, he chuckled. "Just kidding!"
"You better be, dumbass," Sakura grumbled, looking away as her cheeks flushed in embarrassment.
Sasuke glanced her way, noting her eyes lowering to stare at the bench. He knew, of course, but he didn't want to embarrass her further. She'd had a crush on him since first grade, just like many other girls in their year. The only difference now was that most of them had stopped acknowledging him like he'd wanted, and she kept her feelings to herself. He appreciated her reticence. It wouldn't do to have her falling all over him when his duty was to protect the city, after all.
When she pulled out the package of dango, Naruto gasped. "Whoa, dude! You got dango today?"
"Izumi-san made them for me," Sakura replied flippantly as she pulled out a skewer. Her spirits lifted a bit at the three dumplings, and she glanced Sasuke's way. "Tell her I've got a hug coming her way next time I see her."
"Noted," he nodded.
"Can I have some?" Naruto asked, pulling out the patented 'Uzumaki Puppy Eyes'. "Pleeeeeease?"
"Sure." Sakura handed him the stick and pulled out the other. "You want some, Sasuke?"
"I don't like sweets," he flatly said.
"I know," she retorted, eyebrows drawing together into a frown as she appraised the dumplings. "Doesn't hurt to ask."
"Yeah, don't be a dick, Sasuke." Naruto nudged him in the side and pulled the first dumpling off the skewer with his teeth. "Mmm! She's getting better at this!"
Sasuke glared at his friend. A soft cough made his head turn, though, and he caught Sakura with her sleeve to her lips, her eyes narrowed into a frown as she coughed into it. When she pulled her mouth away, she grimaced.
The rest of the day went as it normally went, although once PE started, Sakura went to lay down in the nurse's office.
"So what'd you think is wrong with her?" Naruto asked as they did their laps around the gym.
"I dunno," Sasuke replied. "It's probably just a cold."
"Still, Sakura-chan never gets sick," the blond reminded him. "Except for that one time in fourth grade, but that was 'cause her mom died."
"Don't let her hear you mentioning that," Sasuke warned. The last time someone mentioned her mom, she full-out sucker punched the guilty party and got detention.
"She's at the nurse's, remember?" Naruto rose an eyebrow at him.
"She has ears everywhere, remember?" Sasuke imitated, mirroring his expression.
When they began their fifth lap, a tall man in a uniform walked into the gym and flagged down the gym teacher. The two of them spoke for a few moments before the teacher turned and bellowed, "UCHIHA!"
"Uh-oh, wonder what Guy-sensei wants now," Naruto shivered, giving him a pat on the back. "Good luck out there, man."
Sasuke frowned and jogged over. He didn't recognize the man, nor did he have any recollection of Izumi mentioning that he'd be pulled out early today. For a brief moment, he wondered if he'd done something to get into trouble.
Then a sinking feeling weighed down his stomach, and he swallowed hard. Had something happened to Izumi?
Guy nodded to him as he approached. "Sorry to interrupt your laps, but this gentleman here has requested to take you out early."
"Has something happened to Izumi?" He asked, glancing between them.
The tall suited man shook his head. "It's not anything to do with Izumi Uchiha. Boss has requested your presence at the police station."
His mouth went dry. "I... see."
"Well, off you go," Guy shooed him off. "I'll make sure you don't get in trouble for this."
"Thank you sir," Sasuke said robotically as he followed the man out. He briefly looked over and caught eyes with Naruto, and the blond's mouth stretched into a dissatisfied line and he nodded.
The man allowed him to change and grab his stuff from his locker before leading him to a squad car. He hesitated, but got into the back and sat rigidly as the man got into the driver's seat and drove away.
As he glanced up at the rear-view mirror he realized that he vaguely knew this man. He'd most likely been one of the ones present at Itachi's funeral a few months back, although Sasuke couldn't say for sure. Still, the idea that he knew this man's face was enough to relax him a little. He stared out the window for the entirety of the ride, wondering. If he was being called out, then Izumi had talked to Danzo about the incoming attempt on his life, right? Then what did Danzo want him for? Corroboration?
His thoughts were interrupted when they pulled up to the police station. He unbuckled himself and stepped out of the car with a sinking feeling in his chest. Whatever he was wanted for, he doubted that it was good.
"Right this way," the man gruffly told him as they entered.
The familiarity of the station made Sasuke's chest hurt a little. The last time he'd been here was the night of Itachi's death, and yet months later he felt the same feelings welling up again. Confusion. Fear. Uncertainty. He felt like that boy again, freshly fifteen and worried for his beloved older brother's safety like he hadn't been there when Itachi had been shot.
He shook the thoughts away with a violent shake of his head as they neared Shimura's office. The man knocked twice and waited until Danzo's voice commanded, "Enter." The door opened, and Sasuke could stare right at Danzo, half the man's face still bandaged tightly.
The man's lips pressed into a line and he folded his hands together on his desk. "Thank you, Hanamure. You may leave us alone now."
"Sir," the man saluted before exiting.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Danzo smiled strangely at Sasuke and gestured to a chair before his desk. "Please, have a seat."
Sasuke wanted nothing more than to remain standing where he was. Something about the head police chief sent icy chills down his back. But knowing it was wiser not to anger him, he slowly walked forward and sat down. The chill of the metal sank into his jeans, and he folded his arms over his chest instinctively.
"It's come to my attention that you've heard some disturbing things concerning my safety, is that correct?" The man asked, eyeing him intently.
Sasuke swallowed to wet his throat before answering quietly, "Yes, sir."
"Ah, Izumi-chan is right, you are a polite young man." Danzo chuckled, and the sound of it made Sasuke's heart clench uncomfortably. "Well now, this is indeed concerning, isn't it? You're certain that you overheard some, ah, 'thugs', saying that they would abduct me in the near future?"
"Yes, sir. I did." The words didn't feel like his own. The atmosphere in this room was stifling, and it made him want to curl in on himself before the intimidating man sitting behind that desk. He shifted his eyes away so that he wasn't staring into Danzo's visible eye, instead staring down at the tiled floor. That was an interesting smudge a few inches away from the chair leg.
"Well I must thank you for your concern, oh, what's your name...?"
"Sasuke Uchiha." "Younger brother to Itachi Uchiha, whom you let die."
"Thank you for your concerns, Sasuke Uchiha," Danzo said, and the way he said Sasuke's name honestly felt like he was repulsed by it, though the boy held his tongue at the anger that bubbled up from it. "But surely you must realize that I get these kinds of threats every single day. You should heed them no mind, as I'm perfectly safe."
He sounded like he was trying to explain math to a child, the way his words slowed. His tone was horribly condescending, and the anger rose up higher. Sasuke clenched his jaw, but forced himself to remain silent. This was the man who had the power to fire Izumi at will, after all. He couldn't do that to her. Not so soon after her promotion.
"Perhaps you should better learn how to discern between silly playground taunts and actual threats to one's safety," Danzo finished with a leer as he shuffled his papers. "Did you have anything else to report to me?"
Sasuke took a deep breath to calm himself. "No, sir. I didn't." "Nothing that wouldn't get Izumi fired," he thought sarcastically instead.
"Then you're dismissed," Danzo replied. He pressed a button on his desk and spoke into an intercom, "Officer Watanabe, you're needed to escort out a guest."
An awkward silence settled between them for a few moments as Danzo continued to look through papers on his desk. He completely ignored Sasuke as he began scribbling his signature down on one of them.
Anger bubbled up into his throat. How dare this man? "I muster up the courage to report a possible crime before it happens, and this is what I get? A thinly-veiled threat not to do it again? Who the hell does he think he is?!"
A few seconds later, the door opened, and Sasuke got up from the chair, pulling his backpack with him.
"Good day, Uchiha," Danzo called as he left the room.
"C'mon, kid," Watanabe told him as he shuffled through the hallway.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "I should let them do it. Maybe it'll teach him to treat me with such disrespect."
A/N: As usual, Danzo is a dick, and Sasuke has grudges. In other news, the sky is blue.
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